Drafting mechanism



Jan. 17, 19.39. v J. E. ORRELL. 2,143,996

DRAFTING MECHANI SM Filed March 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1939. EJQRRELL 2,143,998

DRAFTING MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 I NVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 DRAFTIN G MECHANISM James E. Orrell, Whitinsville, Mass, assignor to Whitin Machine Works, Whitinsville, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 26, 1937, Serial No. 133,230

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms in which textile fibers are drafted or otherwise processed by passing the fibers between successive pairs of coacting drawing rolls. The invention is applicable to many different textile machines, such as combers, slubbers, roving frames, spinning frames and other machines in which fibers are drafted between rollers.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved means for applying and regulating the pressure on the drawing rolls in such machines, and for conveniently releasing the pressure when desired.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate the weights and supporting wires heretofore commonly used for applying pressure to drawing rolls in such machines.

I thereby greatly facilitate the cleaning of the machines and the removal of dirt and lint therefrom.

My invention further relates toarrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved mechanism, with the associated drawing rolls shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the invention as applied to three sets of drawing rolls and also showing certain parts in a difierent operative relation.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, I have shown bottom rolls l0 rotatably mounted in bearing bushings l I (Fig. 3) supported in roll stands l2. Upper rolls it are supported by the rolls Iii and are commonly rotated thereby. As shown in the drawings, the lower rolls iii are fluted steel rolls and the upper rolls M are leather-covered rolls as commonly used in such machines. 1 mechanism may be provided for rotating the lower Any suitable rolls. The roving or fiber is indicated at R.

The upper rolls id have reduced end portions l6 rotatable in bushings ll loosely mounted there- Stands I2.

Each member 20 extends rearward above the upper rolls i4. Pressure-applying screws 24 are threaded in the members 28 and these screws engage bow springs '25 rotatably mounted on the reduced lower end portions 26 of the screws 24. F

The springs 25 are preferably formed of flat spring steel and are of the general shape indicated in Fig. 3. ihese springs are loosely mounted between positioning lugs 21 on the lower face of each top member 2%], and the upturned ends 10 of the springs 25 rest on the bushings l'i previously described when the members 2% are in operative position.

The pressure of the springs may be selectively adjusted by tightening or loosening the screws 25, 15 2.3101 the adjustment may be retained by lock nuts Each top member 2a is held in operative position by a link 30 (Fig. 1) and a handle lever 35 Each link 39 is pivoted at 32 to the free end of its top member 20, and each lever 35 is pivoted at to the lower end of the associated link 39. Each lever 3! has a projection 35 which coacts with a hook-shaped projection 36 at the rear of its roll stand l2. Each lever 35 also has another projec tion forming an abutment or stop 3'5.

By inserting the projections 35 under the hooks 36 and bearing downward on the levers 3!, the top members 2!! may be swung downward to operatlve position and may be caused to apply substantial pressure through the springs 25 to the upper rolls M.

As the projections 35 swing beyond the center lines joining the pivots SZ-and 33 before the abutments 3'! engage the under sides of the rearward 35 projections of the roll stands, the parts will retain the position indicated in Fig. 1 until manually released therefrom.

In many machines performing drafting operations and particularly in such machines as use 40 cushioned upper rolls, it is desirable to relieve the pressure on the rolls at the end of the working period, so that the rolls may not become distorted. This may very easily be done with my improved mechanism by raising the handles 31, swinging the members 20 upward, and utilizing the handles 3| and links 30 as braces to support the members 20 in raised position, all as indicated in Fig. 4.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 is essentially 50 the same as in Figs. 1 to 3, except that Fig. 4 shows the application of the invention to a machine using three sets of rolls, and also shows a difierent type of roll stand 4!! and a somewhat longer top member 4|. Except as noted, the

structure is identical with that previously described.

My improved mechanism has the important advantage of applying readily adjustable yielding pressure to the upper drawing rolls and also readily releasing the same. By reason of this improvement, the rolls will yield upwardly if an enlarged bunch of roving or some foreign substance is drawn between the rolls. Aside from such yielding for relief purposes, the top members 20 are locked positively in operative position and cannot be displaced from such position by any amount of upward pressure exerted thereon. If, however, it is desired to entirely remove the pressure, this may be readily accomplished, as previously described, by moving the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. In a drawing mechanism having upper and lower rolls and fixed bearing structure therefor, in combination, a top member additional to said bearing structure and hinged to a pivot element positioned at one side of said rolls, latching means to secure the other end of said top member relative to said rolls and structure, and positioned at the other side of said rolls, and springs secured to said top member and each applying yielding pressure to the adjacent ends of two axially aligned upper top rolls.

2. In a drawing mechanism having upper and lower rolls and bearing structure therefor, in combination, a top member hinged at one end to swing about a fixed pivot, latching means to secure the other end of said top member in fixed position, and springs secured to said top member and each applying yielding pressure to the adjacent ends of two axially aligned upper top rolls.

3. In a drawing mechanism having upper and lower rolls and bearing structure therefor, in combination, a top member hinged at one end to said bearing structure, latching means securing the other end of said top member relative to said structure, and spring means mounted on said top member and yieldingly applying pressure to said upper rolls, said latching means being manually releasable and being thereafter effective as a brace to hold said top member and springs in raised inoperative position.

4. In a drawing mechanism having a plurality of roll stands, lower rolls rotatable therein and upper rolls supported on said lower rolls, in combination, means to apply pressure to said upper rolls comprising top members mounted on fixed pivots at one side of said rolls, screws threaded in said top members, springs mounted on the lower ends of said screws and effective to apply yielding pressure to said upper rolls, and means at the other side of said rolls to hold said top members in operative position.

5. In a drawing mechanism having a plurality of roll stands, lower rolls rotatable therein and upper rolls supported on said lower rolls, in combination, means to apply pressure to said upper rolls comprising top members mounted to swing relative to said roll stands, screws threaded in said top members, bow springs rotatably mounted on the lower ends of said screws and applying yielding pressure to said upper rolls, and means to hold said top members in operative position.

6. In a drawing mechanism having upper and lower rolls and bearing structure therefor, in combination, a top member hinged at one end to swing relative to said rolls, latching means to secure the other end of said top member in operative position, said top member having springpositioning devices on the under side thereof, and springs associated with said top member and positioned by said devices, said springs applying yielding pressure to said upper rolls.

'7. In a drawing mechanism having upper and lower rolls and bearing structure therefor, in

combination, a top member hinged at one end to said bearing structure, latching means to secure the other end of said top member to said structure, said top member having spring-positioning devices on the under side thereof, and springs associated with said top member and positioned by said devices, said springs being elongated and the two ends of each spring applying yielding pressure to the adjacent ends of two axially aligned upper rolls.

8. In a drawing mechanism having a plurality of fixed roll stands, lower rolls rotatable therein and upper rolls supported in said roll stands and on said lower rolls, in combination, means to apply pressure to said upper rolls comprising top members additional to and pivoted on said roll stands, springs attached to said top members and applying yielding pressure to said upper rolls, means to vary the pressure on said rolls, and means to lock said top members in position, said latter means comprising links pivoted to the free ends of said top members, levers on said links, and lugs on said roll stands engageable by portions of said levers and resisting the upward thrust thereof.

9. In a drawing mechanism having a plurality of fixed roll stands, lower rolls rotatable therein and upper rolls supported in said roll stands and on said lower rolls, in combination, means to apply pressure to said upper rolls comprising top members additional to and pivoted on said roll stands, springs attached to said top members and applying yielding pressure to said upper rolls, means to vary the pressure on said rolls, and means to lock said top members in position, said latter means comprising links pivoted to the free ends of said top members, levers on said links, and lugs on said roll stands engageable by portions of said levers and resisting the upward thrust thereof, each lever and link forming a reversed toggle securely held in operative position when moved beyond aligned position.

JAMES E. ORRELL. 

